When I bought my Kia EV6, I wasn't planning on going electric. I rented a Tesla Model 3 and the experience was terrible. But my old BMW X1, with its demanding maintenance schedule and thirsty inline 6-cylinder engine, was draining my wallet. I had my eye on a Mazda CX-50, but I went big on a used electric vehicle instead. Although I have been delighted since I drove it home, there are things I wish I had known.
Are you thinking about an electric one? Whether you can charge at home or not, these are the most important things I wish I'd known before purchasing.
Know your charge levels
I live in an apartment with a parking space but without a power outlet. That means I can't install a high voltage outlet for what EV owners call 'Level 2' charging.
Level 1 is a standard 3-prong household outlet. My car came with an adapter for this, but it takes days to fully charge.
Level 2 is faster and requires a dedicated charger (such as a dryer outlet). Most cars, including my 2022 Kia EV6, use the so-called J1772 port, although the industry is moving to Tesla's NACS standard. The latest Kia EV6 uses NACS, so it works on all Tesla charging stations and other compatible chargers. My car can be charged in less than 8 hours with a level 2 charger.
Level 3 uses DC power for fast charging. These are the chargers you see at rest stops; They look like a larger Level 2 charger and pump power directly to the battery much faster. With Level 3 charging, my Kia EV6 can charge from 1% to 80% in about 20 minutes, and that gives me 200 miles of range. It takes another 20 minutes to reach 100% charge.
Public charging is not free (normally)
Many people think that electric vehicle charging is free. Which is not. Chargers at rest stops or in shopping centers are likely owned by networks like Electrify America or Tesla. You pay different rates for charging, like at a gas station.
Rates vary depending on charging network, charging speed, and even time of day. You are charged per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
My car has a 77.4 kWh battery. If I pay $0.50/kWh, I would pay $38.70 to drive about 300 miles. I figure that's roughly equivalent to paying $4 per gallon for gas in my BMW. That's not terrible, but it's not exactly a savings.
Charging at home is where the savings are: the average U.S. household electric rate is about $0.13/kWh. Unfortunately I don't have that option. However, I found a free charger at my local commuter train station. It's a rarity but I haven't paid for my local driving yet as I could charge for free when I park at the train station.
Prepare for app overload
Charging infrastructure is fragmented. What started with Tesla has expanded to countless companies like Shell, ChargePoint, and Electrify America.
Tap-to-pay chargers are less common than you might expect. Typically, you must download the specific network app to start a charging session. That means dealing with network issues, errors, account setups, and subscription fees.
The first app you need is PlugShare. It's like Yelp for EV charging. Users report which stations are actually working, how much they cost, and how fast they charge, saving you from having to drive to a faulty outlet.
The '80% Rule' saves time
Electric vehicle batteries charge very quickly up to 80% and then slow down dramatically to protect battery longevity.
This means that on road trips, you rarely need to charge to 100%. My Kia reaches 80% in 20 minutes. Getting to 100% takes another 20. It's much faster to drive 200 miles, charge for 20 minutes, and get back on the road than to wait for that final 20%. I only charge 100% when I can leave the car overnight; Otherwise, 80% is enough to move on to the next fast charger.
Trust the range (mainly)
If my car says I have 250 miles of range, I trust it, as long as I'm driving normally. Unlike gasoline cars, which are more efficient on highways, electric vehicles are incredibly efficient in stop-and-go traffic because regenerative braking captures energy when you slow down.
However, factors like high speeds (70+ MPH) and blasting air conditioning will reduce that number. While I used to push my gas cars past “Empty”, I haven't taken a chance on the EV yet.
Cold weather causes problems
My car ran optimally all summer long and delivered 300 miles of range. In winter, things got frigid. Batteries hate the cold. Suddenly, my battery only promised 250 miles or less. If you live in a cold climate, expect your range to decrease in winter.
Don't look for a spare in the… frunk?
With a huge battery underneath, my electric vehicle changes expectations. I have a “frunk” (front trunk) for storage, but no spare tire.
All the electric vehicles I've seen omit the spare to save weight and space for motors and batteries. If I get a puncture, I have to call a tow truck. As someone who knows how to change a tire, this makes me wary, but it's the new normal.
There are actually two batteries in an electric vehicle.
When I bought my Kia EV6, I threw out my jumper cables – big mistake! Like combustion engine cars, my EV6 has a 12V battery in the front in addition to the large high voltage battery that powers the motor. The smaller 12V battery powers the electronics, including vital systems like the starter motor and charging system.
That means if my 12V battery dies, I can't start my car. I can't even charge my car. This isn't usually a problem, but I wish I'd known beforehand. Also, checking my car's functions remotely using the Kia app drains the battery. It also has problems in very cold weather, like most 12V car batteries. It already needed a boost, a task I swore I had left behind when I went electric.
Speed is real (and it eats tires)
My Kia EV6 isn't the fastest GT version, but in Sport mode, the acceleration throws me back into my seat. Electric motors provide instant torque, making them feel faster than gasoline cars available in the market. Even my father, who owned small BMW and MGB roadsters in his day, was very impressed with the truck.
The advantage is low maintenance: no oil changes are ever performed. The downside? That instant torque destroys the tires. Because electric vehicles are heavy and accelerate quickly, you will go through the tires faster than expected. Rotate them religiously.
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